Chassis Black-Out - NCRS Discussion Boards

Chassis Black-Out

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  • Dale Pearman

    Chassis Black-Out

    I've just finished reading the latest Restorer Magazine. I noted with great interest the paint article by Richard Brodeur. I am grateful for the charts of his observed paint on various components of C1 Corvettes.

    I must take exception however to his conclusion implying the absence of a chassis black-out based on lack of observation. The paint used was supplied in 55 gallon drums and was of very poor petroleum quality. There was a canvas booth over the chassis line and the last operation on the chassis before body drop was the black-out painting of everything that had inspection marks or was shiny. This was, in practice, a hit or miss procedure with the degree of painting not consistent from car to car. The paint was supposed to set up within fifteen minutes and never dried to a hard surface as would enamel.

    Paul Vallas alerted me to this procedure some 12 to 15 years ago. The late Phil Hawkins, a St. Louis employee, remembered the chassis black-out booth as did the late George Barlos a long time St. Louis employee, who indicated that body drop employees were always complaining about the wet paint on high humidity
    days. David Burroughs, a frequent visitor to the plant remembers seeing chassis black-out painting as does John Hinckley who worked at St. Louis quite a few years. Ken Kyser provided me with specifications for the black-out paint.

    Peter Leicastro's book, "Birthplace of Ledgends", shows a 1958, 1959 and 1962 body being dropped on a PERFECTLY BLACK chassis in all three pictures. I have 8 x 10 glossy prints of the same photos (courtesy of Noland Adams) that are revealing under magnification. I spoke with a gentleman in Memphis several years ago who claimed to have held the job in the black-out booth.

    This black-out paint soon dulled and I suspect withered away over the years to reveal the inspection marks and component finishes that were observed by
    Richard.

    I've never seen a correctly restored chasis in straight axle judging.

    Dale.
  • Roberto L.
    Expired
    • January 1, 1998
    • 523

    #2
    Re: Chassis Black-Out

    Hello Dale, are you saying that those chalk-like marks usually seen (in photos in my case...) in restored cars are not strictly factory original?

    Thanks, Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

    Comment

    • Dale Pearman

      #3
      Re: Chassis Black-Out

      Roberto I just don't know that much about your model year Corvette and I wouldn't want to mislead you. Perhaps someone else with expertise can help here.

      Dale.

      Comment

      • Roberto L.
        Expired
        • January 1, 1998
        • 523

        #4
        Re: Chassis Black-Out

        Oh, no. I was refering to your words about C1 cars, just for curiosity and general Corvette 'culture', not about my 70.

        Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

        Comment

        • Dale Pearman

          #5
          Re: Chassis Black-Out

          Chaulk shim marks, frame stencil, etc may or may not be blacked out. Usually were blacked out.

          Dale.

          Comment

          • Bill W.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • March 1, 1980
            • 2000

            #6
            Re: Chassis Black-Out

            Dale even if the complete chassis was blacked out the paint would not stick very long to chalk or greese pencil . Bill

            Comment

            • Ron R.
              Expired
              • August 31, 1993
              • 159

              #7
              Re: Chassis Black-Out

              I've ben persuaded to see things as Dale does. In Noland Adam's book pages 21, 45, 126, 222, 223, and 335 in my eye show significant chassis blackout. The 61 that I'm retoring still has black paint on the brake and fuel lines, though I don't have the guts to black these out on my resto for fear of losing judging points.
              When I was talking to the Senior Bloomington 61-62 Judge Jan Quast from whom I bought the car, I remember him telling me that the straight axle chassis were one of the easiest to restore, because everything is just painted black.
              Ron
              23246

              Comment

              • Gary C.
                Expired
                • March 1, 1998
                • 236

                #8
                Re: Chassis Black-Out

                Dale

                Is it your belief that such procedures carried into 1963?

                Gary

                Comment

                • Loren L.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • April 30, 1976
                  • 4104

                  #9
                  Bless Me Father, For

                  Factory photos that have helped me see the light! And things as they were, not as we now wish them to be........

                  Comment

                  • John H.
                    Beyond Control Poster
                    • December 1, 1997
                    • 16513

                    #10
                    Re: Chassis Black-Out

                    Gary -

                    Factory photos indicate that the only chassis black-out spray done on mid-years was on the mufflers.

                    Comment

                    • Brandon K.
                      Expired
                      • April 1, 1997
                      • 474

                      #11
                      MItted Black-Out

                      I thought that was put on with mitts, not sprayed on.....

                      Comment

                      • Dale Pearman

                        #12
                        Re: MItted Black-Out

                        TOTAL NONSENSE. Whoever started the "mitted out" thing needs a prize!

                        C1 exhausts can be OILED with a mit saturated in oil or light chassis grease prior to black out. The exhaust systems were assembled to the C1 chassis as delivered from the supplier with a petrolium coating to prevent excerssive surface rust of the high carbon steel systems. They were NOT degreased before assembly to the car. Blackout paint went right on top of the grease!

                        Noland Adams mentions this "preservative" in his book. He states that he could not identify the substance but it was cosmoline-like. What Noland observed was painted-over grease!

                        Dale.

                        Comment

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